Colonial cooking for a good cause

Natalie Mello and David DiBiasio opened their circa 1730 Paxton home to more than 25 people for an evening of authentic colonial open-hearth cooking lessons and meal prepared the early New England way by a costumed Christine Messier (pictured, formerly of Old Sturbridge Village) and an education in tasting of new world wines by Christine Zecker of the Educated Grape. Participants chopped cabbage, kneaded rolls, mashed gourds for soup and helped in the preparation of numerous delicious pioneer food recipes. The enjoyment of the evening was enhanced by the knowledge that the $1,550 raised would directly benefit the residents of Abby's House, a multi-service non-profit organization in Worcester dedicated to helping homeless and abused women and children. Natalie had recently become a member of the Board of Directors of Abby's House and hoped this unusual fundraiser would succeed not only in raising needed funds, but also in serving to acquaint people with the existence of this Central Massachusetts asset.